Depth ray layer for reduced visual noise

Abstract

The described technology includes a depth ray shader stored in memory and executable to receive a depth map defining a depth in association with each pixel in a three-dimensional scene and define a color gradient between a first pixel value and a second pixel value, wherein each sequential step in the color gradient between the first pixel value and the second pixel is assigned to a corresponding depth of increasing magnitude relative to a reference point. The depth ray shader is further executable to provide an instruction to a graphics engine to cause the graphics engine to apply a depth ray layer to a select portion of the three-dimensional scene, the depth ray layer altering each pixel in the selected portion to assume a pixel value defined within the color gradient to correspond to a depth of the pixel specified by the depth map.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 memory; and 
 a depth ray shader stored in the memory and executable to:
 receive a depth map defining a depth in association with each of a plurality of pixels forming a three-dimensional scene; 
 define a color gradient between a first pixel value and a second pixel value, wherein each sequential step in the color gradient between the first pixel value and the second pixel value is associated with a corresponding depth of increasing magnitude; and 
 provide an instruction executable by a graphics engine to apply a depth ray layer to a select portion of the three-dimensional scene defined by a perimeter, the depth ray layer altering values of pixels internal to the perimeter while pixels external to the perimeter remain unchanged by the depth ray layer, the altered pixels internal to the perimeter illustrating the shape of at least one background object and each assuming a pixel value selected from the color gradient that corresponds to the depth associated with the pixel by the depth map. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the select portion of the three-dimensional scene is bounded by a perimeter encompassing at least one foreground object, the foreground object defined by pixels internal to the perimeter and excluded from the depth ray layer. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the depth ray layer alters pixel values of at least one background object of the three-dimensional scene. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the select portion of the three-dimensional scene includes a transparent foreground object, the depth ray layer altering pixel values internal to a boundary of the transparent foreground object to illustrate a shape of at least one background object. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the depth ray shader defines the color gradient based on pixel values of at least one foreground object in the select portion of the three-dimensional scene, each value of the defined color gradient providing a threshold contrast ratio with the at least one foreground object. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the depth ray shader defines the color gradient based on a user-selectable color preference. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the color gradient defines a range of pixel values of a same hue that vary from another in at least one of tint, tone, and shade. 
     
     
       8. A method comprising:
 receiving a depth map defining a depth in association with each of a plurality of pixels forming a three-dimensional scene; 
 defining a color gradient between a first pixel value and a second pixel value, wherein each sequential step in the color gradient between the first pixel value and the second pixel value is assigned to a corresponding depth of increasing magnitude; and 
 providing an instruction executable by a graphics engine to apply a depth ray layer to a select portion of the three-dimensional scene defined by a perimeter, the depth ray layer altering values of pixels internal to the perimeter while pixels external to the perimeter remain unchanged by the depth ray layer, the altered pixels internal to the perimeter illustrating the shape of at least one background object and each assuming a pixel value included within the color gradient that corresponds to the depth associated with the pixel by the depth map. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the select portion of the three-dimensional scene is bounded by a perimeter encompassing at least one foreground object, the foreground object defined by pixels internal to the perimeter and excluded from the depth ray layer. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the depth ray layer alters pixel values of at least one background object of the three-dimensional scene. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the select portion of the three-dimensional scene includes a transparent foreground object, the depth ray layer altering pixel values internal to a boundary of the transparent foreground object to illustrate a shape of at least one background object. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein defining the color gradient further comprises defining the color gradient based on pixel values of at least one foreground object in the select portion of the three-dimensional scene, each value of the defined color gradient providing a threshold contrast ratio with the at least one foreground object. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein defining the color gradient further comprises defining the color gradient based on a user-selectable color preference. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the color gradient includes a range of pixel values of a same hue that vary from another in at least one of tint, tone, and shade. 
     
     
       15. One or more computer-readable storage media of a tangible article of manufacture encoding instructions for executing a computer process comprising:
 receiving a depth map defining a depth in association with each of a plurality of pixels forming a three-dimensional scene; 
 defining a color gradient between a first pixel value and a second pixel value, wherein each sequential step in the color gradient between the first pixel value and the second pixel value is assigned to a corresponding depth of increasing magnitude; and 
 provide an instruction executable by a graphics engine to apply a depth ray layer to a select portion of the three-dimensional scene defined by a perimeter, the depth ray layer altering values of pixels internal to the perimeter while pixels external to the perimeter remain unchanged by the depth ray layer, the altered pixels internal to the perimeter illustrating the shape of at least one background object and each assuming a pixel value included within the color gradient that corresponds to the defined depth associated with the pixel by the depth map. 
 
     
     
       16. The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the select portion of the three-dimensional scene is bounded by a perimeter encompassing at least one foreground object, the foreground object defined by pixels internal to the perimeter and excluded from the depth ray layer. 
     
     
       17. The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the depth ray layer alters pixel values of at least one background object of the three-dimensional scene. 
     
     
       18. The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein defining the color gradient further comprises defining the color gradient based on pixel values of at least one foreground object in the select portion of the three-dimensional scene, each value of the defined color gradient providing a threshold contrast ratio with the at least one foreground object. 
     
     
       19. The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the select portion of the three-dimensional scene includes a transparent foreground object, the depth ray layer altering pixel values internal to a boundary of the transparent foreground object to illustrate a shape of at least one background object. 
     
     
       20. The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein defining the color gradient further comprises defining the color gradient based on a user-selectable color preference.